Iran, Turkiye issue joint statement to boost trade, cooperation

The joint statement, issued at the end of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Ankara on Wednesday, also condemned the Israeli crimes against the Palestinians and demanded an immediate end to the occupying regime’s attacks in Gaza as well as unimpeded delivery of essential goods and services to the people there.

The two countries also expressed their determination to expand bilateral political, economic, and cultural relations, while explaining their views on important regional and international issues.

The full text of the joint statement is as follows:

– The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkey, in the light of their traditional relations based on mutual respect, common interests, friendship, and deep-rooted cultural and historical ties, emphasize that they will expand relations in all fields through mutual meetings at the highest levels and strengthen contacts between their people.

– The two countries express their determination to jointly fight against all forms of terrorism, which has become one of the biggest challenges of the contemporary era and has caused a lot of damage to the region. They emphasize the fight against smuggling of goods, weapons, drugs and organized crime along their common borders.

– Iran and Turkey also agree to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation by using the existing bilateral mechanisms and agreements and strive to maximize the volume of trade and increase cooperation in the field of energy, and by creating a suitable environment, increase mutual investments and encourage private sectors of both sides to increase cooperation and investment.

– Considering the strategic position and the central role of the two countries in the transportation of goods and passengers as each other’s gateways to Europe and Asia, they express their willingness and commitment to strengthen cooperation in the field of road, rail and transit corridors and emphasize the need to strengthen border trade and create new border terminals.

– Bilateral cooperation in the field of environment and fair and sustainable use of water resources had been among the other agenda of talks between the presidents of the two countries.

– The two sides also emphasize the need for cultural, archive, youth, sports, higher education and productive media relations.

– Both sides, while strongly condemning the desecration of Islamic sanctities, increasing Islamophobia, and hatred, emphasize their close cooperation within the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to approve resolutions against the desecration of holy books.

– Condemning the barbaric crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed people of Gaza was among other topics of discussion between the presidents of the two countries. While expressing concern over the continuation of these crimes, the two sides demanded an immediate end to the Israeli attacks, the lifting of the cruel blockade on Gaza, and the immediate, sufficient and unimpeded delivery of essential goods and services to the Palestinian people. They also stressed that Palestinians have indisputable rights of self-defense.

– The two sides also emphasized the need to confront the impunity of the political and military leaders of the Israeli regime and their trial in competent courts for committing war crimes, genocide and other forms of crimes. They also welcomed the legal action taken by the South African government against the Israeli regime at the International Court of Justice.

– Both sides also emphasized, as partners in the Astana peace process, their mutual will to maintain peace in Syria, and reiterated their commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Arab country. Further, announcing their support for the territorial integrity, political unity and sovereignty of Iraq, the two countries emphasized their mutual expectations from this country to fight terrorism.

– Emphasizing the need to respect the territorial integrity of the countries in the Caucasus region, the two countries evaluated the 3+3 dialogue mechanism as a suitable forum for consultation and constructive cooperation between the member countries.

– The two countries assessed the practical and constructive interactions with the current authorities of Afghanistan and emphasized the necessity of an all-inclusive and responsible government in Afghanistan representing all the people of this country that can provide security for them without ethnic and sectarian bias.

– Emphasized the need for an all-out fight against terrorist groups, drug production and trafficking, human trafficking and illicit trade. Also, they emphasized the need to make it possible for the safe, voluntary and honorable return of Afghan refugees to their country.

– The two countries also declared their support for the territorial integrity of Yemen and called for a stable political solution to bring permanent peace and stability to this country, as well as urgent international aid, including food, medicine and other essential items to the Yemeni people.

– While stressing the need for the security of shipping in regional and international waters, including the Red Sea, the two presidents called the Israeli regime’s brutal aggression against the people of Gaza the root cause of escalation as well as tensions in the Red Sea. They emphasized that decisive measures need to be taken to prevent Israeli crimes in order to bring normalcy to the region.

– They also called for sustainable peace in Ukraine through political dialogue between the warring sides in order to deal with the negative effects of this conflict on regional and global levels, which they said is increasing with the continuation and prolongation of the war.